IT Home, October 13: Tesla is once again undergoing federal regulatory review in the United States, following allegations that its autonomous taxis have been speeding through active school zones.
On October 9, 2026, local time, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) initiated a defect petition investigation involving approximately 1,000 Tesla vehicles, including the Model Y and Cybercab.
The NHTSA states that a total of four related incidents have been confirmed, one of which is a formal complaint submitted to the agency, and the other three are documented reports exposed on social media.
It is important to note that none of the reported incidents resulted in collisions, injuries, or fatalities.
This investigation is currently in its early stages. The NHTSA has not determined that Tesla’s software contains a safety defect and is reviewing evidence before deciding whether to initiate a formal investigation.
This is not the only regulatory matter facing Tesla's autonomous driving technology. The NHTSA is also independently reviewing the technical documentation underlying Cybercab's self-certification. This vehicle lacks a traditional steering wheel and pedals.
As this latest survey is underway, Tesla continues to expand its autonomous taxi service beyond Austin, Texas, having already launched in Dallas and Houston earlier this year, with Cybercab set to begin passenger services in Dallas soon.
Tesla is also continuously expanding its local fleet in Austin; recently, the company revealed that the number of Cybercabs in operation in Austin has reached 300.
IT Home noted that it is not only Tesla that has faced scrutiny over the performance of its autonomous vehicles near school zones; Waymo has also been reviewed by U.S. federal regulators due to incidents involving school buses and low-speed limit areas.